Chapter 7 - The Hostage Exchange
Rocco’s finger froze entirely on the trigger of his submachine gun.
Sophia’s pale face was streaked with tears, but she did not scream.
She looked at Rocco with the same wide, observant eyes she had shown in the dining room.
"I caught her trying to sneak past the wine cellar," Carlo smiled maliciously.
"Her mother managed to escape with the newborn, but this little rat was not fast enough."
Rocco slowly lowered the barrel of his weapon toward the floor.
"Let the child go, Carlo," Rocco demanded, his voice dangerously even.
"This business is strictly between you, me, and the woman pulling your strings."
Carlo laughed and pressed the barrel of his gold-plated pistol against Sophia's temple.
"Drop the gun, Rocco, or I paint this beautiful library with her brains," Carlo ordered.
Rocco knew his brother was completely ruthless enough to execute a child without hesitation.
He slowly unclipped his tactical sling and let the heavy submachine gun clatter onto the hardwood floor.
He raised his empty hands and kicked the weapon away.
Two mercenaries immediately rushed forward and slammed Rocco violently against the bookshelf.
They kicked his legs apart and confiscated his backup pistol from his shoulder holster.
Valentina finally walked into the library, clutching the stolen financial ledger to her chest.
She looked incredibly smug, completely untouched by the violence surrounding her.
"You should have just signed the succession papers to me, Rocco," Valentina sighed.
"It would have saved this beautiful house from being destroyed."
Rocco ignored his treacherous wife and locked eyes entirely with his brother.
"What is your master plan, Carlo?" Rocco asked.
"You execute me, steal the money, and live happily ever after with my sloppy seconds?"
Valentina’s elegant face twisted in sudden anger, and she slapped Rocco hard across the cheek.
Rocco barely registered the sting, keeping his attention focused on his brother.
"The plan is to burn this house to the ground with you inside it," Carlo answered calmly.
"The police will find your charred remains and rule it a tragic mob hit."
Carlo gestured for his men to tie Rocco to the heavy oak reading chair in the center of the room.
"And what about the little girl?" Rocco pressed, testing his brother's boundaries.
"She is a loose end," Valentina interrupted coldly.
"Kill her and throw her in the fire with him."
Carlo looked down at Sophia, then looked back at Valentina.
Suddenly, Carlo raised his gold-plated pistol and fired a single deafening shot.
Valentina screamed as the mercenary holding Sophia collapsed to the floor with a bullet in his head.
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Carlo grabbed Sophia by the arm and pointed his gun directly at Valentina's chest.
"I never agreed to kill children, Valentina," Carlo snarled.
